Collapsible basket.



Patented .1 uly 17, 1917.

lmvmww 1W1 flmwmmw L. BARBOUB.

COLLAPSIBLE BASKET APPLICATION FlLED NOV. 28, I916.

GOLLAPSIBLE BASKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application filed November 28, 1916. Serial No. 133,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Lou BARBOUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a basket and particularly pertains to a collapsible basket for use as a receptacle for clothes and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a basket having a collapsible frame which may be readily and compactly folded when not in use and which will possess considerable strength and rigidity when in its open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible basket having a removable fabric lining which may be readily detached from the basket frame when soiled and be replaced by other linings.

Another object is to provide a detachable mounting for the lining or basket portion which will permit the lining to be firmly held in position without exposing the metallic fasteners employed and thereby insure that damp clothing deposited within the basket will not be marked with rust.

It is a further object to provide a clothes basket having a collapsible frame and a detachable lining, both of which are simple in their construction and may be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrat ing the basket frame in its opened position and further disclosing a fragmentary portion. of the fabric basket secured therein.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating the basket frame asentirely collapsed and further disclosing the partly collapsed condition of the frame in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the corner of the upper frame members and particularly illustrates the manner in which the fabric basket is detachably secured to the frame. f

Fig. 4: is an enlarged view in section as seen on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and as illustrating the manner in which the basket frame is locked in its open position.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, 10 indicates a fabric basket which is rectangular in shape and of a size suitable for the use for which it is intended. The upper marginal edge of the basket is formed with a hem 11 which is opened at the corners to permit supporting rods 12 and supporting strips 13 to be drawn through the hem to provide a detachable support for the basket. The ends of the strips 13 are perforated to receive the ends of the rods 12. The ends of the supporting rods are threaded to receive nuts 14 which hold the rods in position within the upper rectangular portion of the frame.

The frame, within which the basket is mounted, is composed of an upper rectangular portion 15-which is preferably formed of angle iron, as shown in the drawings, and

Y a lower rectangular portion 16 corresponding in dimensions to the upper portion and secured therebeneath by means of vertically disposed legs 17. These legs are pivotally held to the sides of the frame portions 15 and 16 by rivets 18 and 19 or other fastening means. The lower rectangular portion 16 is reinforced by cross straps 20 and 21 which form a net-work between the side members of the rectangular portion and serve as a support for the fabric basket which is adapted to rest thereupon.

Due to the pivotal manner in which the rectangular frame portions and the legs are secured to each other, the entire frame may be folded into the collapsed position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and may be thereafter readily restored to its normal upright position. When in this position the entire structure willbe reinforced by means of diagonalreinforcing braces 22 and 23. The braces 22 are secured to the lower part of the legs at one end of the frame by means of rivets 24 and secured in a slidable manner to the side rails of the lower rectangular frame portion. The braces 23 are pivotally secured by rivets25 to the legs at the other end of the frame and slidably secured by straps to the same rail members engaged by the braces 22. By this arrangement the legs may be swung in relation to the lower frame portion and will permit the entire' collapse ofthe'frame. When it is desired to lock the frame in its upright position, a locking pin 26 is brought to register with a perforation 27 formed through the lower side frame member and also with a perforation through the sliding strap of the brace 23. This pin will be held in its engaged position by means of a pressure spring 28.- It is evident that other locking devices might be used and that the device employed might be mounted at another point upon the frame without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In operation, the fabric basket is fitted with the supporting members 12 and 13 which are passed through the hems of the basket and thereafter positioned so that the ends of the supporting rods 12 will project through openings in the ends of the supporting strips. The basket may then be mounted by passing the ends of the rods through openings formed in the end rails of the upper rectangular frame portion to which they are secured by nuts 14. The supporting strips 13 are formed with offset ends so that the edge of the basket will be concealed beneath the frame members. The basket may be mounted within the frame either before or after the frame is opened to its upright position, which is done by drawing the legs to a vertical position and thereafter securing the frame by means of the lockpin 26. As the legs are swung upwardly they will act in conjunction with the side rails of the upper and lower rectangular frame portions to swing the members in vertical and horizontal alinement and to also move the braces 22 and 23 to their proper diagonal positions. Then the frame is to be collapsed, the pin 26 is withdrawn from the perforation 27 and the members swung downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2

of the drawings.

It will thus be seen that the basket here provided is readily collapsible and may be fitted with interchangeable fabric basket portions which are suitably held in a manner to prevent rust deposits upon the clothing placed therein.

While I have shown the preferred form of my collapsible basket as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction Gopies of this patent may be obtained for cured to the legs, means whereby they may be locked in relation to the lower frame member in order to maintain the structure in an upright position, a fabric receptacle adapted to be positioned within the upper frame member and to rest upon the supporting bars of the lower frame member, and supporting rods upon which the fabric receptacle may be detachably secured.

2. In a collapsible basket, an upper rectangular frame, a lower rectangular frame, pairs of legs pivotally secured at opposite sides of the upper and lower frames adj acent the ends thereof and adapted to extend below the lower frame, and diagonal braces pivotally secured to the lower ends of the legs and slidingly connected to the lower frame; so that the legs will fold to bring the upper and lower frames together and so that the braces may be locked to maintain the basket in upright position.

3. In a collapsible basket, an upper rectangular frame, a lower rectangular frame, pairs of legs pivotally secured at opposite sides of the upper and lower frames and adjacent the ends thereof and extending below the lower frame, diagonal braces pivotally secured to the lower ends of the legs and slidingly secured to the lower frame, means for locking said braces in position when the legs stand upright, a fabric receptacle adapted to fit within the upper frame and having a hem loop along its end and side edges, metal straps extending through the end loops, and rods extending through the side loops and through the ends of the metal straps and through the upper frame.

4. In a collapsible basket, an upper rectangular frame formed of angle iron set with the V-groove inwardly and downwardly, a lower rectangular frame, pairs of legs pivotally secured at opposite sides of the frames, diagonal braces pivotally secured to the legs and slidingly connected to a frame, means for locking said braces when the legs are upright, a fabric receptacle adapted to fit within the upper frame and having hem loops extending along its ends and sides, metal straps inserted through the end loops, and rods inserted through the side loops and through the ends of the metal straps and through the angle iron of the upper frame so as to bring the edges of the fabricunder the upper horizontal flange of the angle iron.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOU BARBOUR.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

